Scarlet Cork: Theatre

Showing posts with label Theatre. Show all posts

"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation." - Jean Kerr

I live on a day to day basis with a certain level of stress. You might surmise that from the fact I have developed hives from stress twice within the past 4 months. You also might choose to attribute this stress to the fact that I have two jobs. From 9-5 I play the role of mild-mannered (ha) customer service agent, but from 5pm on (as well as pretty much my entire waking life) I am the VP/Literary Manager of Raconteur Theatre Company.

For reasons which have never been clear to me there is a general assumption that theatre is easy. We are painted as "slackers" and I can tell you from experience a degree in theatre garners no respect from hiring managers. This is really interesting to me because really what are actors but salespeople, teachers, observers and illuminators of the human condition? Directors and Producers are project managers. Our jobs never end and we work like dogs to get every nuance in exactly the way we want it - while putting out constant fires along the way. Truly, this is a job you have to love... and I do.

If you've ever heard a thespian complaining about tech week, (sometimes referred to as "hell week") you've seen the sense of mingled joy, exhaustion, insecurity, excitement and pain inherent in that bitching. But we do it because we love it.

Just the other day my well-meaning sister and an equally concerned co-worker asked me why I do this when it means my life is so busy. They were surprised by my answer - I'm so much happier when I'm involved in a production. Yes, the rehearsals gnaw huge chunks of time out of my life, deprive me of sleep and regular meals; but there's a freeing stillness to this work. This IS my stress relief.

Day 41

Well, 33 days without a post. I appear to be failing miserably. I've been tremendously busy lately and quite overwhelmed - so much so that I forgot part of the reason I started this was to make sure I didn't track of things with so much going on in my life. I thought perhaps lieu of a New Year's resolution I could just pay more attention to the things on this list. Remembering that it exists is a good start.

Husband was completely sweet for Christmas this year and decided to assist me with this list with his Christmas gifts to me this year. Every tag had my name and the number for the item on this list the gift matched up to. I'm especially excited about the subscription to Cook's Illustrated magazine which matches up to Learn a New Recipe Once a Month.

I did manage to learn a new recipe in December - Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies. I also learned that when using actual crushed peppermint in cookies it is better to err on the side of less candy than more because the candy makes cookies very hard. Also, I learned that I really do need a food processor - something I had not been wanting to admit because it seemed like an unnecessary piece of equipment. I did not learn one in November, but I'm not sure that means I am off on that one seeing as how Nov was half over when I started...

Direct one production a year: This has begun. I have cast my women and I am still hunting some some more people. Rehearsals begin in 11 days.

Teach Husband's Cousin to make a pie: I did make this offer to Husband's dad & wife, they seemed un-enthralled. Not sure what that means. I'm not close with the cousin or her mom, so I'll have to explore this further.

Participate in NaNoReMo 2008: I was doing this and I simply could not find the time to continue. I WILL finish the book, but It's taken me far longer than the month it should have taken.

I'm thinking I should have included something about strengthening my relationship with Brother. He's not really "Brother", but in fact "Brother-in-law"however he's kinda awesome and I have no brothers besides him. As he is getting married in Feb, soon I will have two brothers - a fact I'm quite excited about. Brother lives in a far away land and when he moved we lost touch some. It saddens me that we are not close as we once were and I just feel I don't know him as well as I did. Certainly, it would help if I could make it to visit Far Away Land (which is actually on another continent and about 87, 032 hours by plane - okay really more like 17 hours) but being just a poor thespian I'll just have to save my pennies and work up to that one. It looks like I'll be spending some more time emailing him for now!

Day 2

Okay, so I started this thing and Husband made it kinda easy on me! The very first day, without knowing about the list asked me if we should go out. We haven't been on a date in ages (part of the reason that's on the list). I feel as though there must be some karma involved because we belong to this rewards program at the movie theatre and the machine just spits out coupons sometimes when you make purchases (and sometimes not). This time we got coupons for:
two free movie tickets
two free sodas
a large popcorn
That's like a whole free date minus the dinner! Awesome. Also, the new Bond movie was enjoyable. To be fair, Daniel Craig is pretty hot so I was going to enjoy that aspect and I had a few beers so I may be a bad judge.

I also spent the day working on some necessary details for the show I'm directing in the coming months. It feels great to accomplish something.

I've decided I need to pick one of the ongoing long term items to begin immediately. Since I'm acting in a production opening on 12.4 it clearly can't be the going to bed early one. I'm not going to give up sweets, soda or alcohol going into the holidays so that eliminates some too. So I have decided to "respect my body" and take my vitamins! I don't know why I'm so excited, but they sound like the best options. I also thinking my new recipe within the first 30 days may be something for Thanksgiving. That seems sensible to me.